How to choose digital cameras?

March 04, 2013

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Digital Cameras

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Digital Cameras are now more popular than ever, whether you have one on your mobile phone or a standalone unit. The idea of digital cameras is a complete revelation. They have enabled people to take photographs as much as they like without having to worry about purchasing more film and of course that cost of getting said film developed. For a while here we are going to assume that you want to branch away from your phone camera and are after something a bit better. However, where do you start? In this article hopefully I am going to give you the low down on choosing the best digital camera for your needs.

Firstly you are going to need to consider how much you want to spend on your camera. There is a huge range out there and the price can vary from $30 all the way up to many thousands of dollars. Of course, the more you pay the ‘better’ the camera is going to be, no necessarily in the quality of the photo (although the photos will be noticeably better) but in terms of the amount of control that you have over the artistic look of your image, we will discuss that in greater depth soon. However, once you have your budget you will be able to narrow down your options rather drastically.

If your budget is in the lower price bracket (sub $400) then you will only have one real choice and that will be ‘point and click’ cameras. These are cameras which choose the options automatically for you. All you need to do is literally point at what you want to photograph and the image will be snapped. If you have a slightly higher budget you will have the choice between bridge cameras and Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras (DSLR).The latter option is getting into ‘pro territory’. These cameras allow you full control over the settings including the ISO you shoot at, shutter speed, aperture etc. If you don’t understand what those words mean then don’t worry. It basically means that you have full control over the photos that you take. One of the biggest benefits of DSLR cameras is the range of equipment that you can purchase for it. This includes even more powerful flashes and different lenses. It is worth bearing in mind that the accessories from different manufacturers are NOT interchangeable and thus if you opt for a DSLR you are stuck in that system for life, however many of the big manufacturers offer good quality equipment so it shouldn’t be too much of an issue for you.

One of the things which people seem to be hung up on the most is the megapixels of the camera. However, I am going to let you in on a little secret here. The megapixels don’t matter too much. The only way in which they are going to matter is if you blow your picture up to astronomical sizes and even then you would have to look pretty hard to see that the image isn’t as clear as it should be.

Finally you will want to consider a couple of things. Firstly do you need to be able to record videos with the camera? If so, opt for one with video recording capabilities. You will also want to ensure that the storage space inside the camera is expandable i.e. can it take SD Cards (and what type!). If it can’t then it is best to give the camera a wide berth as you don’t want to be caught out not being able to take any more photos right?

Remember, always check reviews of cameras to ensure that you are going to end up with something that is high in quality! If possible take a look at the quality of photos it takes too. Those with an eagle eye will be able to tell the difference between them.